| Category | Name | Rating | | Notes |
| Pinot Noir | Acacia Winery Pinot Noir | 4.0 | | Brooding and husky in a come-hither way, this extracted pinot is serious stuff. Earthy, spicy aromas are followed up with strong tannins and a concentrated plummy fruit character. Try with salmon in a mushroom sauce. |
| Red blend | Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards 'Eloge' | 4.5 | | Wow. The tannins are bold, but smooth, the oak spicy yet sweet, and the fruit ripe and juicy. A whiff of tobacco and smoke adds interest. Drink now or age up to ten years. (Sixty percent cabernet sauvignon, 25 percent cabernet franc, 10 percent merlot.)
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| Red blend | Angove's 'Bear Crossing' Red Wine | 3.5 | | Though not terribly complex, this blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and shiraz is so much fun to drink. With juicy cherry flavors, vanilla aromas and a creamy, soft texture itıs like Kool-Aid for adults. |
| Sangiovese | Atlas Peak Vineyards Sangiovese | 3.5 | | Atlas Peak is considered the granddaddy of California sangiovese. Sporting fresh cherry flavors and mouth-filling smoothness, the wine's Tuscan heritage shows through with distinctly spicy, dusty aromas. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Bella Sera Merlot della Venezie Italy | 3.0 | | With light strawberry, cherry flavors and a smooth, soft texture, this isnı't complex merlot, but is fun and easy to drink Attractive packaging (an Italian villa sketched on the label) makes it a good, all-purpose gift.
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| Merlot | Buena Vista Merlot Carneros California | 3.5 | | A merlot for cabernet lovers. Rich and full-bodied with cassis, chocolate and tobacco notes, it's merlot on steroids. The bottle is heavy and imposing and the label is sleek, which makes an impressive gift. |
| Merlot | Caliterra Merlot | 3.5 | | Elegant merlot in a distinctively Chilean style. Its soft, smooth texture is highlighted with herbal aromas and wild berry flavors.
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| Cabernet Sauvig | Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon Valle Central Chile | 3.5 | | Here's a wine that impresses without costing a fortune. Known for producing powerful reds, Carmenıs cabernet sports boysenberry and plum flavors topped off with tobacco notes and supple tannins. No one will ever guess you only dropped $8. |
| Red blend | Casa Nuestra Winery Meritage | 4.0 | | Dusty, floral and blueberry notes show the influence of cabernet franc in this supple wine. It's smooth and succulent, but with a good tannic grip on the finish. Drink now or age short-term. (50% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc.)
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| Bordeaux | Chateau Angelus 1er Grand Cru Classe | 4.5 | | One of the jewels of Saint-Emilion scores in 1999 with their stunning wine. Due to the hailstorms during harvest the wine is predominately merlot with cabernet franc, which explains its plush, supple texture, rounded tannins and aromatic qualities. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau Bouscaut Grand Cru Classe de Graves | 4.0 | | One of the top values of the vintage. The property produces approachable wines that are ready to uncork and enjoy immediately. This is a succulent, ripe, full-bodied red with aromas of berry and earthy, soft tannins and a long, peppery finish. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau Cantemerle Grand Cru Classe | 4.0 | | Like drinking velvet. Texture is everything in this red as the supple tannins and mouthfilling fruit showcase the wine's heavy dose of merlot. Ready to drink and enjoy. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau Gazin | 4.5 | | A big boy wine: Opulent and full, tannic and intense with deep blackberry fruit, great levels of acidity and a creamy mouthfeel. This is one wine to cellar for a few years before uncorking. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau Greysac Cru Bourgeois | 3.5 | | Year after year this is one of Bordeaux's best values. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and sweet berry and spice aromas, this inviting wine is as comfortable paired with meat dishes as with full-bodied fish. Drink now or age short-term. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau Haut-Bailly Grand Cru Classe de Graves | 4.0 | | The power of cabernet sauvignon shows through in this intense, age-worthy wine. Concentrated and complex with black cherry, earth and anise aromas, strong tannins and noticeable acidity, it's closed at first but opens up beautifully after a little time in the glass. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau LaGrange Grand Cru Classe | 4.0 | | Cherry, spice and licorice aromas jump from the glass and are followed up by a healthy acidic kick and gentle tannins. A very elegant and pretty wine that' ready to uncork now or age short-term. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru Classe | 4.5 | | Quintessential Bordeaux: Earthy yet overflowing with fruit, elegant yet powerful, tannic yet supple. Lynch-Bages is a classic that can be enjoyed now, but itıs crafted with so much depth and complexity it can age for years. |
| Bordeaux | Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte Blanc Grand Cru Classe de Graves | 4.5 | | Just like Ali and Cher are recognized with a simple word, so can this apricot and floral-scented white wine be acknowledged with singular expressions: Gorgeous. Opulent. Stylish. Toasty. Full. Delicious. |
| Red blend | Col Solare Red Wine | 5.0 | | Without a doubt one of my favorite wines in recent memory. A joint venture of Italy's famed house of Antinori and the Washington State giant Chateau Ste. Michelle, the wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and dash of syrah. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Estates | 3.5 | | Don't let the price fool you, this is a deliciously complex wine. Medium-bodied with soft yet noticeable tannins, it has intense berry, bell pepper and tobacco aromas topped off with a long, black pepper-laced finish.
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| Red blend | Cosentino Winery 'The Poet' Meritage | 4.5 | | America's first Meritage wine, this full-bodied red is both elegant and meaty. Sporting a real earthy character with dried fruit, peppercorn notes and noticeable tannins, it's unique yet delicious. Drink now or age up to ten years.
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| Red blend | d'Arenberg 'The Stump Jump' Grenache/Shiraz | 4.0 | | Talk about supporting cast -- this wine has personality. Meaty and spicy with raspberry and plum, it highlights the elegant, old-vine character of grenache (the main grape of Chateauneuf-du-Pape) without sacrificing the power of the shiraz. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon | 4.5 | | A weighty bottle capped in silver wax and a silver embossed label is filled with some of the best Washington State cab around. Overflowing with floral aromas and ripe plum fruit, this well-balanced wine is ready to drink now or cellar short-term. |
| Zinfandel | Edmeades 'Eaglepoint Ranch' Zinfandel | 4.0 | | Don't let the nearly 16 percent alcohol fool you, this full-bodied wine is rather elegant. The fresh herbal, black cherry aromas hint at the cool-weather growing conditions, while the flavors wow you with characteristic pepper and spice.
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| Red blend | Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards 'Tradition' | 4.0 | | Full of racy, food-friendly acidity this wine is loaded with raspberry and plum fruit, fresh herbal notes and spicy pepper. Smooth and soft, it invites uncorking now but can age short-term. (Fifty-six percent cabernet sauvignon, 44 percent merlot.)
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| Red blend | Grant Burge Wines 'The Holy Trinity' | 4.0 | | Celebrating the union of the three historic grapes of the Barossa Valley --grenache, shiraz and mourvedre -- this smoky, powerful red is an iron fist in a velvet glove. |
| Red blend | Hogue Cellars Cabernet-Merlot | 3.5 | | A combination of cabernet and merlot that showcases the vibrant fruit quality of Washington State wine. Juicy plum and boysenberry notes pair up with soft tannins and a spicy finish. Not terribly complex, but awfully pretty. |
| Red blend | Kathryn Kennedy Winery 'Lateral' | 4.0 | | Intensely fruity and juicy with dried cherry, raspberry and black cherry combined with a touch of earthy flavors and a long, tangy finish. Drink now. (Seventy percent merlot, 20 percent cabernet sauvignon, ten percent cabernet franc.)
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| Red blend | Liparita Cellars 'Enlace' Red Table Wine | | | Named after a Spanish word meaning marriage or union, this blend overflows with black cherry, blackberry and licorice flavors. It seamlessly marries supple tannins and integrated oak with vibrant acidity. Drink now. (50% merlot, 50% cabernet sauvignon.)
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| Sangiovese | Luna Vineyards Riserva Sangiovese | 4.5 | | Made in the style of age-worthy Chianti Classico, this wine will embrace you now with deliciously seamless tannins and plump, ripe plum and berry flavors, but has the stuffing and balance to age for years.
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| Zinfandel | Montevina 'Terra d'Oro' Zinfandel Home Vineyard | 3.5 | | Sporting 15 percent alcohol and plummy, raisiny aromas, this is full-bore, rustic zinfandel. It's spicy and brawny with noticeable tannins that turn smooth once the bottle has been opened for a while. Drink with a cheeseburger smothered in ketchup. |
| Zinfandel | Norman Vineyards 'The Classic' Zinfandel | 3.5 | | Bargain zins are rare these days as the trendy grape moves into the realm of cabernet sauvignon and merlot pricing, but this wine is a deal. Medium-bodied with smoky aromas and ripe blackberry fruit flavors, it won't overwhelm food.
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| Cabernet Sauvig | Penley Estate 'Phoenix' Cabernet Sauvignon | 4.0 | | There aren't enough o's in smooth to describe the texture of this wine. Complex and seamless with cassis, blackberry, chocolate and peppery notes, this med-full bodied cab is simply gorgeous. Drink now or age short-term.
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| Sangiovese | Pepi Two-Heart Canopy Sangiovese | 3.5 | | Captures the fresh earth quality of good Chianti and pairs it with California fruitiness. Dried cherry, strawberry and hints of tea combine with super-soft tannins. Try it with casual fare such as pizza, burgers or spicy ribs.
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| Pinot Noir | Rex Hill Vineyards Pinot Noir | 4.0 | | Pinot gets dressed up in its Sunday best in this pretty, inviting wine. Vibrant black cherry fruit and soft tannins are rounded out with hints of cola and licorice on the finish. |
| Red blend | Ridge Vineyards Coast Range California | 4.0 | | It's hard to categorize this eclectic red (a blend of carignane, zinfandel, sangiovese, barbera and petite sirah) from one of California's best producers, but it's delicious. Succulent, ripe blackberry fruit fleshes out smooth tannins, and smoky aromas. |
| Red blend | Robert Sinskey Vineyards 'RSV' Vineyard Reserve | 4.5 | | A medium-full bodied beauty sporting rich blackberry, chocolate and tobacco aromas followed by soft, silky tannins and a long peppery finish. Drink now or age short-term. (47% merlot, 31% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc.)
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| Red blend | Rodney Strong Vineyards 'Symmetry' Meritage | 4.5 | | Big and bold, the cabernet shines through in this powerful blend. Toasty oak and supple tannins join perfumed, smoky aromas and ripe blackberry jam fruit to make a stylish and cellar-worthy wine. (60% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot, 9% cabernet franc.) |
| Zinfandel | Rosenblum Cellars 'Hendry Vineyard' Zinfandel | 4.0 | | No kidding around here, this is zin. Made by Rosenblum, one of the three classic R's of zinfandel (the other two are Ridge and Ravenswood), this is big, meaty, spicy, jammy, full and tannic.
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| Zinfandel | Sapphire Hill 'Winberrie' Old Vine Zinfandel | 4.0 | | A powerhouse wine with pleasantly surprising vibrancy. The aromas are true zin -- jammy, wild berries and allspice -- but when you sip it, you're enveloped by juicy cherry and berry freshness. |
| Pinot Noir | Siduri Wines Pinot Noir | 4.5 | | The bright cherry fruit jumps from the glass in this coyly seductive wine. Medium-bodied with balanced tannins and a supple texture, it pairs approachability with ageability. |
| Sangiovese | Silverado Vineyards Sangiovese | 4.0 | | Structured and focused with laser-like acidity and full-bore fruit, Silverado's sangiovese is textbook New World wine. Expressive aromas of raspberry and ripe strawberry flesh out a core of strong but supple tannins. |
| Pinot Noir | Skewis Pinot Noir 'Floodgate Vineyard' | 4.0 | | Like a kiss and a kick in one bottle. The light color belies the wine's complexity and power (14.8 percent alcohol), so give it time to open up. Delicate strawberry and herbal notes are backed up by black pepper, spicy oak and a long, intense finish. |
| Red blend | Trey Marie 'Trutina' | 4.0 | | Structured and focused, but with a pretty, feminine side. Smells like freshly-baked cherry pie with a bit of butter and spice, it's backed up by soft tannins and sweet oak flavors. Drink now. (54% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc.)
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| Cabernet Sauvig | William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | 3.5 | | Stylish wine wrapped in a stylish package. What looks like a real grape leaf graces the bottle of this widely available wine. A medium-bodied red with herbal notes and fresh black fruit flavors, it's a top choice for gift giving. |